A SOLUTION TO MORTAR MISFIRES?

A recent encounter in Basilan that resulted to the death of 14 members of the Philippine Marines is partly blamed to defective ammunition. In a TV footage, some mortar rounds misfired during the heat of the encounter.

Marine spokesmen blamed the defective mortar rounds to poor storage and old ordinances among others. Poor storage is a bit difficult to solve since mortar rounds are sensitive to moisture and other environmental intrusions and soldiers naturally operates in the harsh rainforest.

Here's a video that shows a new solution that will be implemented by the Philippine military. Mortar rounds are first kept in plastic cannisters then sealed with what seems to be a rubber or silicon based sealant before being applied with an electrical tape as a secondary sealant.

Watch the video.